Chap. V.] CIVILIZED NATIONS. 173 



Rome — only appear to have purpose and value when 

 viewed in connection with, or rather as subsidiary to . . . 

 the great stream of Anglo-Saxon emigration to the west." 

 Obscure as is the problem of the advance of civilization, 

 we can at least see that a nation which produced during a 

 lengthened period the greatest number of highly intellec- 

 tual, energetic, brave, patriotic, and benevolent men, would 

 generally prevail over less favored nations. 



Natural selection follows from the struggle for exist- 

 ence ; and this from a rapid rate of increase. It is impos- 

 sible not bitterly to regret, but whether wisely is another 

 question, the rate at which man tends to increase; for this 

 leads in barbarous tribes to infanticide and many other 

 evils, and in civilized nations to abject poverty, celibacy, 

 and to the late marriages of the prudent. But as man 

 suffers from the same physical evils with the lower animals, 

 lie has no right to expect an immunity from the evils con- 

 sequent on the struggle for existence. Had he not been 

 subjected to natural selection, assuredly he would never 

 have attained to the rank of manhood. When we see in 

 many parts of the world enormous areas of the most fer- 

 tile land peopled by a few wandering savages, but which 

 are capable of supporting numerous happy homes, it 

 might be argued that the struggle for existence had not 

 been sufficiently severe to force man upward to his highest 

 standard. Judging from all that we know of man and the 

 lower animals, there has always been sufficient variability 

 m the intellectual and moral faculties, for their steady ad- 

 vancement through natural selection. No doubt such 

 advancement demands many favorable concurrent circum- 

 stances ; but it may well be doubted whether the most 

 favorable would have sufficed, had not the rate of increase 

 been rapid, and the consequent struggle for existence 

 severe to an extreme degree. 



